Foldable leg structure for tables and the like



July 2, W47.

c. c. BROWN FOLDABLE LEG STRUCTURE FOR TABLES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 24, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Czar/ea C firown.

LIKE

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jufiy 22, 1947. c. c. BROWN FOLDABLE LEG STRUCTURE FOR TABLES AND THE Filed Nov. 24, 1944 Inventor 1 Patented July 22, 1947 FOLDABLE LEG STRUCTURE FOR TABLES AND THE LIKE Charles G. Brown, Greensboro, N. 0.

Application November 24, 1944, Serial No. 564,991

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel structural assemblage which may be broadly and comprehensively entitled a foldable leg structure for articles of furniture such as tables, chairs and the like, the same having more particular reference to novel hingedly mounted gravity-actuated legs and equally novel gravity-actuated leg releasing and,sustaining means.

Briefly, the leg structure, as a unitary assemblage, is characterized by four duplicate collapsible and projectible legs, these being fastened by novel hinge means to the under side of the table top, and there being a floating gravity-actuated frame so constructed and arranged as to readily release the legs for folding into compact form, or to clamp and sustain the legs in perpendicular supporting positions.

The outstanding object of the invention is to provide a table or the like, such as for example a card table, in which the hinged legs drop down to perpendicular supporting positions when the table is placed right side up and parallel to the floor or other supporting surface, the floating frame dropping down from a release to a locking position at the same time; the operation being just the opposite when the table is turned upside down, at which time the frame and legs automatically recede, as it were, under the influence of gravity, to adapt the structure for ready and easy storage.

In carrying out the specific principles of the invention, the inner ends of the legs are beveled and such bevels coact with companion bevels on anchoring blocks, the legs being hingedly attached to the blocks, and the floating frame being provided with corner notches so arranged as to coact with the hinged joints in achieving the above-described automatic results.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like elements throughout the views:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a table embodying the improved leg structure constituting the invention herein sought to be protected.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the table set up for use.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view with the legs and frame retracted or in receding position to occupy the folded compact position illustrated.

Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section taken 2 through either of Figures 1 or 2, as the case may be.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view to bring out the details of construction and mode of operation, the section being taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 3, also looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary top view showing one corner, this to bring out the fixed blocks and the shiftable leg releasing and locking frame.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, it will be seen that the top of the table, as a unit, is denoted by the numeral 8. It includes a suitable top 9 and a surrounding marginal depending skirt or rim Ill. The intermediate lower edges of the rim are provided with elongated notches II which serve as hand holds and also facilitate in setting up and knock.- ing down the table.

The leg means in each instance comprises the leg proper, this indicated at l2, and a complemental anchoring block l3 securely mounted in the corner of the table rim (see Figs' 5 and 7). The so-called lower face or side of the block is mitered to provide a bevel M which slants outwardly and downwardly and terminates at about a plane even with the lower edge of the skirt or rim [0. The upper coacting end of the leg I2 is provided with a corresponding bevel 15 which when the leg is in use abuts the bevel M. Hinge means is provided to connect the leg to the block. One leaf of the hinge, as indicated at It, is fastened to the short inner face of the block, and the remaining leaf I1 is connected to the coacting face of the leg. This same face of the leg has a gradual declivity I8 which constitutes a cam binding surface, as will be later seen.

As before indicated, I provide a releasing and locking frame which may be referred to as gravity-aotuated and floating in type. This is a rectangular frame and is denoted generally by the numeral l9. It fits snugly and slidably within the inner perimeter of the rim of the table. It is adapted to move within the depth of the recess defined by said rim. It can occupy the receding or retracted position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 and in full lines in Figure 6. Or, it can be dropped down to occupy the locking or sustaining leg position shown. in full lines in Figure 5. To accomplish this, the respective corners of the frame are provided with special adapter notches 20. In Figure 7 I show daylight between the 3 notches and associated blocks, but actually the fit is snug.

Assuming that the leg frame I9 is in the dotted line position seen in Figure 5, it will be observed that it is of a thickness that its outer surface is on a plane spaced from the hinge joint to allow said joint to operate freely. Also assuming that, from Figure 5, the user is grasping opposite sides of the rim of the table through the aid of the hand grips II, and that the legs at the moment are folded, as seen in Figure 6, the legs drop down and under the influence of gravity assume perpendicular positions. Following this, the locking frame l9 clears and passes beyond the hinge joint and drops down to the full line position shown in Figure 5. The cam surfaces l8 clear the adjacent edges of the notches to permit this to be accomplished. When, however, the frame [9 drops down to about the level shown, the notches bind against the areas or regions 2! and jam and the frame thus locks itself in place and also looks the legs in extended perpendicular table-supporting positions.

The opposite operation is true when the table is turned upside down. Simply assume that the table is setting up, as shown in Figure 5, and then the hand holds are grasped and the complete tableis turned upside down, and it is obvious that the frame is drops back into the dotted line position and frees the legs and clears the hinges. As soon as the hinges are cleared, the legs flop in and automatically assume the folded positions shown.

I call attention to the fact that the hand holds or notches ll not only facilitate handling and turning the table first down and then reversing and turning it up, but they permit the fingers to manipulate the folded legs slightly so as to free them and to start them to fold out and down.

It is evident that the legs operate by gravity either in or out. Likewise, the frame i9, which is sufficiently heavy for the purposes, also operates under the influence of gravity. By properly proportioning the parts, it is believed that they operate smoothly and effectively, said operations being substantially automatic, as it were.

It is evident that each leg, as a unit, might be said to be made up of complemental sections I2 and I3, the latter described as blocks. In other words, we have here a sectional leg with the adjacent ends abutting in inclined or beveled relationship, these being hinged together at a predetermined folding point in relation to the depth of the rim and the thickness of the floating gravity releasing 'and locking frame l9.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a table or equivalent structure, a top provided with a marginal rim, blocks rigidly mounted in the corner portions of the rim, said blocks having their normal under surfaces beveled downwardly and outwardly, legs coacting with the respective blocks, the inner ends of said legs being beveled and said bevels coacting with the bevels provided on said blocks, and hinge means connecting the beveled ends of the blocks and legs.

2. In a table or equivalent structure, a top provided with a marginal rim, blocks rigidly mounted in the corner portions of the rim, said blocks having their normal under surfaces beveled downwardly and outwardly, legs coacting with the respective blocks, the inner ends of said legs being beveled and said bevels coacting with the bevels provided on said blocks, hinge means connecting the beveled ends of the blocks and legs, a projectible and retractible gravity-actuated frame confined within the limits of said rim and movable toward and from the top, said frame having corner notches contacting the inner surfaces of said blocks and legs, predetermined edges of the legs being provided with declivities defining cams to permit the notches to bind against the legs when the frame takes a predetermined horizontal position.

CHARLES C. BROWN.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,668,799 Wurdack May 15, 1928 1,644,133 Howe Oct. 4, 1927 2,106,436 Pyle Jan. 25, 1938 382,937 Babcock May 13, 1888 386,450 Bon July 24, 1888 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 286-326 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1928 

